Stroke Center

NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital is a Primary Stroke Center

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A stroke is a medical emergency, and treatment should be sought as quickly as possible. NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital is designated by the New York State Department of Health as a Primary Stroke Center. In recognition of our exceptional and prompt stroke care, we received the Get with the Guidelines®-Gold Plus Award and Target Stroke Elite Honor Roll Award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. This means the hospital has protocols in place to quickly treat patients experiencing stroke symptoms.

When a stroke is suspected, our Emergency Department staff rapidly evaluates symptoms and determines if the patient is a candidate for tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)—a clot-busting medication that can minimize or even reverse the damage caused by the stroke if given within three hours of the onset of symptoms.

What is a stroke?

Stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching brain tissue. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells start to die, leading to a possible loss of functions (such as eyesight, speech, and movement) that are controlled by the affected area of the brain. Ischemic stroke happens when a clot in a blood vessel blocks the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke causes bleeding in the brain.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Strokes are treatable and preventable. The faster a patient is treated, the greater the chance of recovery. For some types of stroke, treatment should be given within the first three hours. To reduce the risk of brain damage and increase the chance of a full recovery, patients should get to a hospital as quickly as possible after the first sign of a stroke.

Stroke Warning Signs

Call 9-1-1 and get medical care immediately if you are experiencing:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
  • Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance/coordination